Merle Sherman

Dragon by Merle Sherman

I love to bead icons that have a story and represent things around the Portland area. This bead work is inspired by the colorful Taiwan-style dragon boats that race on the water front of the Willamette River for the annual Rose Festival event. Many of the legendary origins of Dragon Boat races have a history of more than 2000 years, the festivals all involve some of the most important traditions in Chinese Culture like virtue, spirit, loyalty, honor, and love.

Kaohsiung China gave Portland, Oregon their first 2 Taiwan-style dragon boats in 1989. Portland-Kaohsiung Sister City Association promotes people to people exchanges of educational, artistic, and cultural activities. I feel the same way about beadwork and what PBS does to help promote bead activities to include people to people exchanges of bead education and artistic expression. When I watch the dragons glide across the river I can feel the water and wind in my mind and imagine myself as the dragon.